Vocational Consideration

My Mom got a new job recently. Her occupation is still the same, but the setting where she carries it out is now different. I was a little nervous for her - she's getting into this new venture at an early stage and to me there seemed to be a lot of unknowns. But two weeks in, she is raving about it. "I can't believe how well they treat us!" she says. They provide her with everything she needs to do her job, they give her ample time for learning and training, they forbid her from taking work home with her because her personal time is her own, they provide healthy snacks in an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle. "We want you to like your job," they tell her.

It hit home for me when as an example she told me that "they even provide pens and hilighters! I don't have to go out and buy them anymore!" and I thought, "hey, that's what I just did - went out and bought pens, pencils and hilighters for work!" And at the time I liked having a reason to continue buying school supplies, but now it has it made me think.

The ethos behind my company is more like my Mom's old job than her new one. We put so much priority on being productive and getting the job done that we sacrifice morale. Making people feel appreciated isn't near the top of the priority list. If someone doesn't want to do something, we say "that's too bad, it's their job," instead of trying to be considerate so that they will like their job. And it seems like a change of attitude would require more than we have to spare.

I'm not really sure how much should be given to us. I have noticed in myself that free handouts, like when they share cakes from the bakery, makes me feel greedy and entitled instead of grateful. It too often feels too impersonal when there's no one to thank.

I notice this lack of good treatment on both ends - as well as being an employee, I'm also a relief supervisor. I notice not only how I am treated but also how I treat others. As much as I can I am trying to say not just "I want you to do your job," but "I want you to like your job." I hope that comes through in tone of voice, in considering their desires, in caring about their lives, in sharing my baking. I want us to like our jobs.